5 Things We Learned - Round 16

It wasn’t pretty but we got the job done in the end. Going into the game I was expecting a win off the back of a few absentees from the Eagles but for the love of God we made such hard work of that.

A West Coast win would have been daylight robbery and we can just be happy that the result fell on our side this time. We probably should have won by a fair bit more but we’ll take the four very valuable points on offer and wipe that game from the memory bank.

Marcus Bontempelli's long shot from outside 50 has given our season a pulse. Source: Getty Images

1. The Response

After last week’s frustrating and heartbreaking loss, it seemed the frustration would be extended after an annoying first quarter against the Eagles, where we proceeded to control the general play only to throw away any sort of chemistry going forward before conceding a goal on the counter.

A change in the way we moved the ball forward was required and that was what occurred. In the opening quarter, the West Coast Eagles had six intercept marks in their defensive 50 but over the remaining three quarters the figure would only be eight more. It wasn’t just the adjustment of delivering the ball closer to the forward 50 arc but the way we were able to disrupt the Eagles ball movement.

With 25 marks in the opening term the Eagles were on track to record a large number so to be able to contain them to just a further 55 (18.3 per quarter), considering some of their aerial weapons in Josh Kennedy, Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass was just as important.

Rated elite for marks (6.1) this season, restricting gun key defender McGovern to just the two marks (zero after quarter time) and only one intercept throughout the night was crucial to our victory and a terrific team effort.

After watching the Cats last week adapt and halt our style, it was pleasing to see us display the same ability against a top four contender.

2. Unheralded Key Defenders

There are seven minutes left in our round 16 encounter against the West Coast Eagles and our finals chances are hanging by a thread. Star forward Josh Kennedy has the ball between the wing and half forward and is looking to deliver the ball inside 50 for consecutive goals for the Eagles and an 11 point lead.

Enter Zaine Cordy

Kennedy elects to play on and try his luck getting past Cordy but to no avail, the ball is spilled and ultimately ends up in the hands of utility and inclusion Roarke Smith who is paid a free kick. Smith then proceeds to put the Dogs up by a point to settle the nerves.

This is not possible without that game changing play by Cordy.

Long thought of as the man to succeed the great Dale Morris, Cordy is an unassuming, tough competitor. Like all players, Cordy has his faults but you can never question is his commitment and ability to fight above his weight division.

In contrast to Cordy, one player who might not be deemed as integral to the line up is Ryan Gardner but has slowly started to appear more confident and give fans less heart attack moments with ball in hand.

For the way we set up our defence, we value the ability to cover ground at quick and Gardner’s closing speed is currently what sets him apart from Jackson Trengove and Lewis Young.

Apparently Gardner is quite a nervous starter but over the past few games that issue seems to have become less recurring and he has started to at least look the part of an AFL key defender. A team high five spoils and 100% efficiency says that he is finding his feet.

3. A Tag at last

We know that traditionally under Luke Beveridge we tend to go head to head in the midfield and around the ground, backing our players to win their one on one contest’s instead of playing negating roles to restrict someone’s influence.

We also know that Toby McLean is a quality footballer and one who is definitely in the best 22 and yet at times he has found himself on the outer for different reasons: form, match ups and perhaps sticking to a task.

Earlier this season McLean has had a few scalps in Lachie Whitfield, Jake Lloyd and Shaun Higgins but his performance against Andrew Gaff might just be his best effort yet, especially when you consider Gaff’s past five games against us where he has polled 12 Brownlow votes (four best on grounds) and averaged a shade below 30 disposals.

McLean’s efforts to restrict one of the league’s premier wingmen to just the 15 possessions, 13 uncontested; both well below his 2020 averages of 24 and 17, 195 metres gained, and one mark (4.93) was instrumental in the Bulldogs two point win and thoroughly deserved his nine coaches votes from both Luke Beveridge and Adam Simpson.

Although we would prefer Mclean to be kicking the football more (five kicks, 15 handpasses) it was his ability to make Gaff accountable that shone through, registering 24 pressure acts, nine tackles and eight score involvements (both equal first with Josh Dunkley). It was complete defensive performance from the attacking, crafty mid-forward.

McLean might be a different footballer to Liam Picken but it was an effort the one time tagger and premiership hero would be certainly proud of.

Andrew Gaff wasn't the only player who had Toby McLean on his haunches on Sunday night, with Jack Redden too copping his pressure. Source: Getty Images

4. Dare to Dream again?

Although 2019 came to a crashing halt there was that optimism about a return to September.

With our season still alive, in this case it could potentially be a return to September and October if things go as we hope.

With Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney self destructing at the moment with defeats to Fremantle and Adelaide, the opportunity for us to make consecutive finals series for the second time under Luke Beveridge’s coaching tenure has breathed life into an up and down 2020.

With the Hawks and Dockers to come, there is a realistic chance to atone for last year’s disappointing exit.

5. What can we take out of the victory